Cowes RNLI Responds To First Shout Of The Year After Yacht Runs Aground
- Dominic Kureen
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Cowes RNLI crew were called out to their first lifeboat shout of the year on Monday afternoon (5 January) after a yacht ran into difficulty off the Isle of Wight coast.
The crew were paged at 4.50pm after a 26ft yacht suffered engine failure and steering problems before drifting onto rocks near Thorness Bay.
HM Coastguard tasked the Cowes RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat Sheena Louise to attend.
On arrival, the crew found the vessel aground and listing heavily, with one person on board.
Due to the low tide, the lifeboat was unable to get close enough to reach the yacht, but a health check confirmed the skipper was uninjured, although very cold after being exposed to the winter conditions.
Additional assistance was requested, and HM Coastguard tasked Calshot RNLI’s D-class lifeboat, while Coastguard Rescue Teams from the Needles and Ventnor were also sent to the scene.
With the yacht firmly stuck on the rocks and temperatures continuing to fall, a decision was made to remove the skipper from the vessel.
The D-class lifeboat crew successfully transferred him to the Cowes lifeboat, before he was taken back to Cowes where he was met by waiting ambulance crews.
The initial Cowes RNLI crew returned to station at 6.50pm after spending around two hours out in the cold and were replaced by a fresh crew.
The second crew returned to the scene and worked alongside Calshot RNLI to secure an anchor to the yacht overnight.
The shout marked the first service call for newly enrolled crew member Jay, who recently qualified to go on service.
The stranded vessel was safely recovered and returned to Cowes by the Cowes Harbour Commission the following morning.
Libby Finch, who was at the helm during the first part of the rescue, said the skipper had done the right thing by calling for help.
She added that crews are always happy to assist those in trouble and urged anyone who finds themselves in difficulty at sea to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard at the earliest opportunity.